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Sync your calendar with the solar system

AUG. 10, 2017

Sascha Schuermann/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

August 7

Partial lunar eclipse

Earth passed between the sun and moon, but it didn’t make a perfectly straight line, making this eclipse partial. It was good practice for the total solar eclipse that moved across North America in two weeks later. Learn more about eclipses and other lunar sky phenomena here.

Bill Ingalls/NASA

Starting August 12

The Perseids meteor shower peaked

Starting in the evening of Aug. 12 through the next day’s dawn, some caught a glimpse of the Perseids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.

NASA

August 20

Voyager 2 launch, 40th anniversary

On Aug. 20, 1977, Voyager 2 began its mission through our solar system, the first of the two Voyager spacecraft to launch. It is the only Earth spacecraft that has visited Uranus or Neptune, and is now on its way to interstellar space. Read about the NASA engineers who have spent decades guiding this mission here.

August 21

Total solar eclipse crossed the United States

All across the United States, people put on their special eclipse glasses for what was one of the most memorable events of 2017. Times reporters covered the eclipse along the line of totality, which is where the sky gets darkest. Learn more about the eclipse here.

NASA

September 5

Voyager 1 launch, 40th anniversary

On Sept. 5, 1977, Voyager 1 began its mission through our solar system, the second of the two Voyager spacecraft to launch. It gave us amazing views of Jupiter and Saturn before becoming the first spacecraft from Earth to enter interstellar space in 2012. Learn more about the legacy of the Voyager missions here.

NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

September 15

The Cassini spacecraft ended its mission by crashing into Saturn

The Cassini mission first launched in 1997 and finally reached Saturn in 2004. After 13 years of science and amazing images of the ringed planet and its many moons, we said goodbye. Learn more about how the spacecraft will come to a fiery end here.

Joel Kowsky/REX Shutterstock, via Associated Press

September 18

The moon blocked three planets and one of the brightest stars in the sky

An occultation occurs when one body in space lines up to obscure others. On this night, the moon got in the way of Mercury, Venus and Mars, as well as the star Regulus. Learn more about how astronomers use occultations here.

Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY, via Associated Press

September 22

The Osiris-rex spacecraft completed a flyby of Earth

Launched in September 2016, Osiris-rex will collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu and bring it back to Earth. But first it had to complete a flyby of Earth in order to gain enough speed to reach the asteroid. On Sept. 22 it did that. Learn more about Osiris-Rex here.

Mike Zacchino/The Oregonian, via Associated Press

September 22

Autumnal Equinox

The autumnal equinox is one of two points in Earth’s orbit where the sun creates equal periods of daytime and nighttime across the globe. Many mark it as the first day of the fall. See what it looks like from space here.

Petar Petrov/Associated Press

Starting October 22

The Orionids meteor shower peaked

Starting in the evening of Oct. 22 through the next day’s dawn, some caught a glimpse of the Orionids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.

Craig Bailey/Florida Today, via Associated Press

November 1

Events were watching for starting in November

We were on the lookout for the announcement of two major missions to space. The private company Moon Express’s attempt to put a lander on the moon to claim the $20 million Google Lunar X prize. And SpaceX demonstrating its Falcon Heavy rocket, an important step toward the company’s vision of sending people to space.

James S. Wood/Arizona Daily Star, via Associated Press

Starting November 18

The Leonids meteor shower peaked

Starting in the evening of Nov. 18 through the next day’s dawn, some caught a glimpse of the Leonids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.

Nick Ut/Associated Press

December 3

Supermoon

You may not be able to tell the difference between a supermoon and a regular full moon, but it was larger and brighter than usual as the moon moved closer to Earth over the course of its elliptical orbit. Read more about supermoons and other moons here.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Starting December 13

The Geminids meteor shower will peak

Starting in the evening of Dec. 13 through the next day’s dawn, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Geminids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.

Matt Cardy/Getty Images

December 21

Winter Solstice

It’s the scientific start to winter in the Northern Hemisphere, when this half of the world tilts away from the sun. Read more about solstices and the seasons on Earth and other planets here.

Ian Webster and Peter Jenniskens

Starting December 22

The Ursids meteor shower peaked

Starting in the evening of Dec. 22 through the next day’s dawn, some caught a glimpse of the Ursids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.

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